Portable booth.



W. J. PRICE.

PORTABLE BOOTH.

APPLICATION FILED DE(1.13, 1912.

1,065,272. Patented June 17, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

) I] I l I I INVENTUR Willard J. Price,

ATTORNEYS W. J. PRICE.

PORTABLE BOOTH.

v APPLICATION IIL ED DEO.13, 1912. 1,065,272..

Patented June 17, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I LQJ. I 1 LL! 45 25" 20 I 5 27 iuunmmmlflll WITNESSES INVENTIOH Willard J Pmce,

A HORNE! W. J. PRICE.

PORTABLE BOOTH.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP E0. 13, 1912. 11,065,272, Patented June 17, 1913.

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PORTABLE BOOTH.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.13, 1912.

1,065,272, Patented June 17, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

6y 5| L L j 20" I 16 J 20 /((7 ,5| 52 2 I WIT/958858 l/WE/VTOR Willard J. Price, r

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PQRTABL E BOOTH.

Bpeciiication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1913.

' A pp1'ication filed December 13, 1912. Serial No. 738,618.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD J. Pmon, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident proved Portable Booth, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description- This invention relates to portable furni: ture and has particular reference to means for constructing temporary booths or the like and for use by organizations for fairs, bazaars or other display occasions.

Among the particular objects of the invention is to provide a booth construction embodying a style or character of booth section which may be made up in large numbers,'and when 'a-"fair or bazaar is contemplated any suitable number or arrangement of such sect-ions may be employed to make up the required number of booths. By virtue of the arrangement just referred to, it is feasible for one engaged in the business of fitting up bazaars or the i like to be equipped with a suitable stock of booth elements and for such party to attend to the designing and erecting of the booth equipment according to the requirements of any special occasion. In carrying out this idea, such arty may devote his time largely to exploitation of his booths, and his own men and conveyances should attend to all of the work in transporting and erecting the same so that the work may be done expeditiously and in a'manner satisfactory to all parties. It is to be noted, furthermore, that "a church, fraternal organization or the like may purchase and keep in stock for its own use a supply of the above mentioned booth elements which may be put up for use whenever needed and then easily taken apart and stored away.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the bersin plan; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the overhead structure; Fig. 4 is a vertical transversesection substantially on the lines 4-4 of Fig.1; Fi .-5 is a vertical longitudinal section of a detail on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fi .6 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 66 of Fig. 4, indicating one of 'the shelves in bottom plane; Fig. 7 is a sectional detail on the plane indicated by the'line 77 of Fig. 4; Fig. -8 is a vertical sectional detail on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a perspective viewdaken from the rear and indicating the adaptability of the device to a double booth construct-ion; Fig. 10 is a pers ective view indicating moreparticularly t e construction of the supporting devices andillustrating especially the support for the intermediate portion of the double booth construction in a partially folded position; Fig. 11 is a front elevation of .a modified form of head panel; Fig. 12 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 13 is a transverse'sectional detail on the line 1313 of Fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a plan view of a modification of table top; Fig. 15 is an edge view ofthe same; Fig. 16

a forni of table top adapted to a corner.

In carrying out this invention in a practical form, and having reference especially to the single booth construction as indicated in the first group of figures, I use a plurality of table tops 20 of any suitable size or dimensions and preferably of uniform design. Each of these tops 20 isshown asbeing rectangular in general outline and prois an end view of the same; and Fig. 17 .is v

vided adjacent one corner of each end with anoteh 21, the open end of the notch being at the end of the top.

At each end of the table top 20 is a support 22, said support comprising a front column 23 and a rear column 24. Said columns 23 and 24: are preferably permanently connected by means of a stringer 25 pivoted adjacent each end to the respective columns and constituting the primary support for the table holding the latter in horizontal position. Said stringer is shown composed of a pair of space bars 26 rigidly connected at their ends by cross braces 27. Said stringer 1s pivoted to the front column 23 by means of a pivot 28 ournaled ina pair of lugs or blocks 29 on the rear faceof said column The other column is shown pivoted to the rear end of the stringer through a pivot 30.

The columns when set up are secured in propervertical position by meansof detachable braces 31, two of such braces being preferably employed in connection with each support 22, said braces being connected to the columns in crossed relation, as shown in Fig. ,4. These braces 31 are provided with dowel pins 32 which extend into corresponding sockets 33 in the column members and which are preferably maintained in place by friction.

,The front column 23 may extend vertically above the table top 20 to any desired point, and for the purpose of providing; an ornamental appearance and for other purposes described below, each adjacent pair of columns 23 may be connected by a head panel 34 in any suitable manner. This panel serves to strengthen the supporting means, increasing the stability of the entire structure and at the same time providing a means of ornamentation, either in itself or for the application of drapery or other m .tlBS for deco ation. As a simple and satisfactory means for securing the head panel Set to the columns 23, I provide on each column a cleat 35 which supports the end of the panel, and each column is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting parallel lugs 36, each of which is adapted to extend into a loop 37 secured against the rear face of the panel.

As shown especially in Fig. 2, the adjacent ends of a pair of tops 20 abut against each other, the column 2 being received in the alining notches 91. The column, therefore, will prevent the displacement of a table top forwardly or rearwardly. At each end of a single booth is arranged what may he termed a side table 38 which breaks joints with the main tops 20 of adjacent single booths, said side table 38 resting squarely upon the rear end of the support 22 and having a pair of dowel pins 39 extending into sockets 4-0 near the rear corners of said tops 20. 7

It will be observed that in the embodiment of the invention thus far described, the width of the table top 20 is preferably less than the length of the support and hence the side table 38 provides a convenient extension of the table top for the sevcral purposes of providing additional table room and for increasing the stability of the structure. The side table 38 is secured in place with respect to the stringer 25 by means of a vertical post 41 which extends downwardly through the rear end of the side table and through a socket 27 formed in the rear brace 27, said post at its lower end coming snugly against the upper end of the rear column 24- where it is clamped by any suitable means such as a bolt 42 pivoted at 43 to the lower end of the post and adapted to he slipped downwardly through the side table and said socket 27'. The bolt may then be swung through an arc of 90 degrces into horizontal position into a slot 43 formed 1n. the rear column and there secured by means of a washer and winged nut- 44. It will thus be seen that the side table is locked to the stringer 25 of the support 29 by means of the vertical post 41 and that said side table through the pin 39 constitutes a positive means to secure the rear corners of adjacent table tops together. If desired, additional pins 45 may be employed to secure the front corners of adjacent table tops from separation, said pins 45 extending downwardly from the top into the front end of the stringer 25, into holes 45.

The post 41 may be utilizedas a means for supporting the overhead parts of the front and also to provide additional shelf room. o this end any suitable number of shelves 46 may be extended between the column s3 and the post 41 and secured thereto in any convenient manner. As shown herein, the front end of each shelf is provided with a pair of fingers 47 which extend downwardly into as many screw eyes 48 secured into the rear face of the column 2 and the rear end of the shelf is notched at 4-6 to embrace the post 411 and is prevented from displacement from the post by means of a finger 41-? extending into a screw eye 48 connected to said post. Each shelf, therefore. in addition to providing storage room constitutes an effective brace between the column 23 and the post 41.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 9, it will be understood that the devices previously described provide not only a means to erect a continued succession of booths, but also provide adaptation of double booths. It is to be understood, furthermore, that the example of double boot-h shown in Fig. 9 may stand alone or may be connected in aseries of single or other double booths.

In erecting a double booth l employ a pair of supports 22 having the usual front columns 28 and posts 41. The middle column, however, is omitted, leaving an unobstructed view at the center and hence 11 provide a special support 22 which corresponds in most respects to the aforesaid support 22, but Whose front column 23 terminates in a bar 23, the upper surface of which is flush with the upper surface of the table top. The stringer 25 also is shorter, not exceeding the Width of the table tops 20, and the braces 31 likewise are shorter, connecting the front column to the rear column 24 which may be exactly like those previously described. In order to support the meeting ends of the end panels 34 in this construction I provide a bar 49 which may be secured to the bottom rails of said panels by means of bolts 50 and placed against the lo-Wer portions of the aforesaid loops 37 whereby the effect of the bar 49 is increased in strengthening the s an.

At each finished end of a booth' or a series of booths there is provided a special form of side table 38 which is L-shaped and in its cooperation with the main support 22 and post 41 is similar to the side table 38 above described and fills up the space at the end of the top 20 which would otherwise be left open. The front end of the member 38 rests upon the stringer 25 and becomes preferably flush with the outer edge of the column 23. The rear end of the member 38 cooperates with the adjacentcorner of the top 20 precisely in the same manner as the member 38.

\Vith the description of the mechanism as already set forth, it is thought that the manipulation thereof in assembling and knocking down the same will be clear. The special support 22% as indicated in Fig. 10, is foldable by passing the rear column 24 with its lower end directly through the front column, swinging said rear column forwardly and upwardly through an angle of approximately 270 degrees, the stringer 25' swinging downwardly through an angle of 90 degrees, and all three of the parts being substantially nested or lying in close parallel planes and the cross bar 23""being connected to the stringer 25 constituting a limiting stop for the stringer as it swings around the pivot 28. Each main support is foldable slightly differently, the stringer 25 swinging upwardly through an angle of about 90 degrees around the pivot 28, and the rear column 24 swinging inwardly with respect to the stringer and coming into close parallelrelation to the front 'column, the braces 31 and 31 in all cases being removed from the supports when the supports are folded. It will be understood also that all of the parts are made of uniform size and are therefore practically all interchangeable with respect to each ty e of boot-h.

In order to utilize al available space or to adapt the device to all sizes of rooms or spaces to be filled, certain of the table tops 20 may be made of telescopic sections 51 and 52, each of which, however, is provided with an end notch 21 for the purposes already set forth. The head panel 34 likewise may be extensible, and as herein shown they consist of pairs of telescopic rails 53 and 54, and at each end of the panel 34' is connected in any suit-able manner a bar 55 to which the loops 37 may be clamped for cooperation with the lugs 36 aforesaid. It will be understood, therefore, that by this arrangement of extensible table tops and panels, a four foot booth construction, for

example, may be readily adapted to a five, six or even a seven foot space. These parts may conveniently be formed of sheet metal with coop rating flanges as indicated, and

for the purpose of filling the corner space. 7

While the special angle isindicated as an outside angle, it is to be understood that I will provide also inside angles; that is to say, the notches 21 shown in this figure may be applied adjacent either pair of corners so that the same special top 20 may extend along the series of booths in any dirc non.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The herein described portable booth construction comprising a series of table tops adapted to be joined end to end, each top having an (id notch, a series of supports for said table tops, eachsupport cooperating with the adjacent ends of a pair of table tops and extending through the alined pair of notches, and means cooperating with said supports to prevent longitudinal separation of adjacent table tops.

2. The herein described portable booth construction comprising a series of interchangeable table tops, a plurality of foldable supports, each support cooperating with and supporting the abutting ends of adjacent table tops, means included in each support to prevent the same from folding when in use a side table at the end of each booth and cooperating with the adjacent table top end to secure the same-in place, and means to lock the side table to the support.

3. The herein described portable booth construction comprising a plurality of table tops adapted to abut each to each, supports for the adjacent abutting ends of the table tops, said supports including rear columns and upwardly extending front columns, a series of side tables breaking joints with the main table tops, locking means to secure the side tables to the supports, said locking means including a post secured to each rear column, and bracing means extending between said post and said front column above the table tops.

4. In a portable booth, the combination of a pair of supports, a table top extending between and supported upon said supports, said table top being provided with means to prevent displacement from the supports, said means including a side table eooperating with and extending rearwardly from one end of the table top and resting squarely upon the rear end of said support, and means locking said side table from-displacement upon the support.

5. In a portable booth, the combination ofa pair of supports including rear columns and upwardly extending front columns, a table top extending between and supported upon said supports and interlocking with said front columns, a pair of posts secured to and extending upwardly from said rear columns and spaced from said table top, a head panel extending between and supported upon said front columns, and bracing means connecting the respective front columns with said posts.

6. In a portable booth, the combination with a table top, supporting means for the same comprising a support having a rear column, a side table extending rearwardly from one end of the table top and resting squarely upon said support, and locking means for the side table comprising a post extending downwardly through the side table and support and detachably secured to said rear column.

7. The herein described portable booth comprising a plurality of table tops, sup porting means therefor including a support having a rear column, a stringer, and a front column, the adjacent ends of said table tops embracing the front column and resting upon said stringer, a side table extending rearwardly from and breaking joints with said table tops and resting upon the rear end of said stringer, and means cooperating with said rear column and serving to lock said side table from displacement. v

8. In a portable booth, the combination of a plurality of table tops adapted to abut end to end, supporting means therefor including a support having front and rear columns and a stringer connecting the columns, the adjacent ends of the table tops resting upon said stringer adjacent the front column, the rear column being spaced from the table tops, a side table breaking joints with said table tops and interlocking the same, said side table extending rearwardly over the rear column, and means detachably secured to the rear column and serving to lock the side table from displacement.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLARD JAMES PRICE.

Witnesses:

ROBERT H. ASPINWALL, JAMES E. ROBINSON. 

